Gananoque Intermediate and Secondary School Renames Football Field in Honour of Late Volunteer Jim Boltin

(Gananoque)
– He was the ultimate “behind the scenes” volunteer for the Gananoque
Intermediate and Secondary School (GISS) football program.

A
former professional football player, the late Jim Boltin was there for
everything from Christmas tree sales to support the GISS Trojans, to
laying chalk lines on the gridiron.

On Friday afternoon, Boltin
was officially recognized for his efforts when the high school’s
athletic field was renamed the Jim Boltin Field at the 2015 Gananoque
Secondary School Homecoming Game. A community fundraising committee also
presented a cheque to the school for nearly $8,700 to support the
football program. The money will cover equipment and transportation
costs.

A memorial to Boltin and friend Rich Robinson, another late
volunteer who helped with the program, was also unveiled as part of the
festivities. The memorial was donated by the 1000 Islands Accommodation
Partners and Leeder Monuments.

Local resident Trish Byrne, a
member of the Jim Boltin Memorial Committee, said Boltin was a dedicated
volunteer who went above and beyond for the football program, but
shrunk away from publicity.

“He saw potential in everyone,” said
Byrne. “He was involved for the kids and everybody looked up to him. He
taught the kids about sportsmanship, and self-control, and was always
there to offer encouragement. He was a big part of this program.”

The
school hosted a brief ceremony on the field before the homecoming game
in which Boltin’s daughter Jamie cut a ceremonial ribbon and the local
fundraising committee presented the cheque.

During the ceremony, Boltin’s wife Francine thanked the fundraising committee for recognizing her husband.

“You
deserve great honour for your investment in this community,” she said.
“You are leaving a legacy for this generation and the generations to
come.”

Byrne said Boltin, who helped resurrect the GISS football
program along with Robinson and others in 2001, assisted the program in
several ways:

A former professional player with the Montreal
Alouettes, he coached in the Thousand Islands Football League as well as
with the Gananoque program, and mentored coaches such as former Trojans
Head Coach Jason Henderson, and current Defensive Coach Sean Clark.

He
secured signed sports memorabilia through his contacts in the business
world to be auctioned off at fundraisers such as the Jayna Hefford
Memorial Golf Tournament.

He organized the annual Christmas tree
sale run by the GISS football team, setting up shop at the main
entrance. It became a tradition in Gananoque to purchase a tree at the
school and support the program.

Boltin helped run the training
sleds, and volunteered for the canteen at Trojans home games, cooking up
onions, burgers and sausages.

A member of the local Rotary and
Lions clubs, he volunteered with a variety of fundraisers from the local
RibFest to PumpkinFest.

Robinson was a former Ontario
Provincial Police officer. The late detective volunteered for both the
Thousand Islands Football League and the GISS program. He barbecued
hamburgers and sausages for the canteen at Trojans games, helped order
football jerseys and assisted Boltin with Christmas tree sales.

Boltin died in 2012, while Robinson passed away in 2013.

The
memorial to the two men has also started a new tradition at the school.
Trojan players will now run up to the memorial in single file, and
touch it before each game as a sign of respect for tradition and those
who have laid the groundwork for them to take the field. The practice
brought the Trojans some good luck in Friday’s game. They defeated North
Grenville District High School by a score of 22-7.